Fike Men Finish Strong

Christmas came a bit early for the Fike High mens varsity basketball team. They go into Christmas break with a big win before they head into the Christmas tournament to face county rival Hunt. With a strong student section Christmas caroling throughout the game, the boys came out on top 63-56. Trevon Virgil led the way with 21 points for the demons. “That was absolutely a great way to go into the holidays,” Fike head coach Brent Secrest said. “We needed that to build confidence and to prove to the guys they can do what we have been telling them they can do. I know they get tired of hearing it, and they need to see results.” Anthony Evans scored 11 points and Jakel Jenkins added 10. Sam Ellis scored ten points, but led Fike’s playmaking. Secrest also praised the efforts of freshmen D.J. Daniels and A.J. Hines, who were moved up from the JV. Virgil, the nephew of John Virgil who established a reputation for “instant offense” during his career with the North Carolina Tar Heels, succeeded in finishing. Regarding Virgil’s performance, Secrest good-naturedly responded: “It was about time he woke up. We knew he was a Virgil, but we had to get it out of him.” Virgil reasoned he’s too young to know about his uncle’s successes. He said he has heard plenty and gets many tips from the uncle. “I try to play just like him,” Trevon Virgil declared. “We both rebound and score a lot. He tells me to play hard and let the game come to me. He says to enjoy the game, play good defense and show good sportsmanship.” “Everytime I touched the ball, I felt like I could hit,” Trevon Virgil explained. “The shots started dropping and I got fired up.” The tempo was hectic and turnover-filled. Southern Wayne was more active on the backboards, claiming a 34-26 rebounding margin. Clinging to the lead, Fike took shots it didn’t need to take, committed unnecessary fouls and struggled for stops and defensive rebounds. Yet, the Demons did not relinquish the lead in the final quarter.
“It feels really good,” Trevon Virgil said of the outcome. “We got tired of losing. We are ready to come out, compete and try to win every game.” Next up for the Demons is a test against archrival Hunt in the semifinals of the Farris & Farris Holiday Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 27, in the Beddingfield High gym.